ABSTRACT
Discussion about military change and, more specifically, concerning military revolution and modern or total warfare in the period 1775-1815, focuses on land conflict in the Western world, and generally ignores or underrates the importance of naval developments. This is unfortunate as, on the world scale, it was as naval powers that the Western states were particularly important and effective. Indeed, as throughout the period covered by this book, there was a Western naval exceptionalism that rewards attention. On land, of course, the capability of Western powers was readily apparent in the 1790s-1810s, from the Ohio to Sri Lanka and Sumatra. The newly independent Americans made important gains to the west of the Appalachians, the French conquered Egypt in 1798, the Russians defeated both Turks (1806-12) and Persians (capturing Derbent in 1796), and the British made important gains in South Asia. Each was impressive, but also needs to be placed in perspective. Aside from the defeat of attacking Western forces at the hands of non-Western powers, such as of the British in Egypt in 1807, these latter powers also campaigned actively on land against each other and with important results. These consequences included the consolidation of Vietnam in the 1790s and 1800s, the replacement of the Hausa states by the Sokoto Caliphate in West Africa, major campaigns by Burma and Siam and the development of de-facto independent Egyptian power under Mehmet Ali.
